Daisy Miller : A Study

Sing Ruby Siu
English 48B
February 19, 2009
Journal #13 Henry James

QUOTE:
“He asked himself whether Daisy’s defiance came from the consciousness of innocence or from her being, essentially, a young person of the reckless class” (424).

SUMMARY:
In Henry James’ short story “Daisy Miller : A Study,” Winterbourne was deeply attracted to Daisy Miller upon their first meeting in Vevey and he later even followed her to Rome to visit her. When Winterbourne arrived in Rome, he gradually discovered Daisy Miller’s personality through her intimate interactions with Mr. Giovanelli and her attitude towards the society’s opinion on her. Daisy was considered by many outsiders, like Mrs. Walkers, as inappropriate and reckless girls, who paid not enough attention to the gender roles and characteristics society favored, and consistently challenged and rebelled by indulging her time in anything she wanted, including went on a walk with two gentlemen late at night. Winterbourne genuinely contemplated those scandals and disagreement targeting the girl, and yet his admiration for Daisy still defended her innocence.

RESPONSE:
The story was named “A Study” because the context, though narrated in third-person, still emphasized a great deal on Winterbourne’s thoughts and psychological activities that were engaged in analyzing Daisy Miller’s personality. The author separated his direct interference in Daisy Miller’s true thoughts and intentions, as well as other characters, but the story’s narrations are still very deep and penetrating as Winterbourne’s thoughts are often revealed. From my own analysis and Winterbourne’s psyche described, Daisy Miller obviously possessed a very complicated character. The central focus of the debate is whether she was an innocent American girl, who proactively sought for her interests and boldly acted despite the conventions; or she was vulgar flirt, who was lack of educated and modest mindset in her relationships with men.

This is the same question Winterbourne tried to figure out in the story. Winterbourne, as a man devoted much energy “observing and analyzing” feminine beauty, could simply wish to categorize Daisy into some familiar groups of woman he had known. As described by Sparknotes, “Winterbourne is preoccupied with analyzing Daisy's character.” When he met her in Vevey, the elegance and beauty of Daisy completely dominated the impression for Winterbourne, and therefore he in his own mind drafted the first set of positive opinion towards her. He regarded her as a mannered, self-possessed, humorous young lady who was “singularly honest and fresh” (394). However, from the eyes of his aunt’s Daisy was reckless girl who devoted much energy flirting with every man to sustain her position in the society. She considered her a “dreadful girl” because Daisy ignored all the social conventions and behaved in an indecent manner.

At first, Winterbourne tried to defend Daisy’s innocence, but later when he met Daisy few more times, the complexity of Daisy’s act amazed and challenged him, and he wished he could finally define or prove her personality to himself, his aunt and the society. When he met Daisy in Rome, he found out that this girl was extremely intimate with handsome Giovanelli and people would feel better if she was engaged with him. Winterbourne secretly agreed with many others that Daisy was going too far beyond ordinary social rules and ideals, so he tempted to save her from her fall. However, the traditional European rules did not apply to this very young American lady, as she continued her way down to recklessness without a guilt feeling at all.